Congo Gains Prominence as a Copper Exporter to China
China’s demand for copper has undergone a significant shift in recent years, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) emerging as its top supplier. Once reliant on Chile and Peru, China is now sourcing an increasing share of its copper from Africa’s richest copper-producing nation. This shift is reshaping global trade patterns and strengthening China’s grip on the Congolese mining sector. In 2024, China imported 1.48 million metric tons of refined copper from the DRC, marking a 71% increase from the previous year. This surge has positioned the DRC as China’s largest supplier of refined copper, significantly outpacing Chile, whose…